Ulysses release from Space Shuttle

An artist's impression of Ulysses' release from the Space Shuttle, 6 October 1990. At 15.4 km/s, it became the fastest space probe ever, propelled by the Inertial Upper Stage and the Payload Assist Module (the spherical motor immediately below Ulysses). Ulysses is a joint ESA mission with NASA studying the interplanetary medium and solar wind in the inner heliosphere beyond the Sun's equator for the first time. Its high-inclination solar orbit took it over the Sun's south pole in 1994 and then the north pole in 1995. It is now heading back towards the Sun for a second southern solar pass above 70° latitude during September 2000 to January 2001, and a similar northern pass during September to December 2001. [Image Date: 1989] [89.02.020-001]